Cardi B reveals struggles with depression and motherhood after split from Offset

American rapper, Cardi B, has opened up about depression and making music in her interview with Kelly Rowland.

Image: Instagram

In a candid interview with Kelly Rowland, American rapper Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, better known as Cardi B, shared her struggles with depression and the challenges of motherhood after her separation from estranged husband Offset.

Discussing her upcoming album, “Am I the Drama?” to be released on September 19, Cardi B revealed how her emotional state has impacted her ability to create music.

“When I'm really in that angry mode or very sad mode, I cannot even record. I can't put my emotions into my music because when I'm sad, I can't record. I had two months where we had to cancel everything because I was so depressed that I couldn't record,” she explained.

Cardi B described her emotional turmoil, stating, “I couldn’t stop crying. Every time I see a mic, I start crying. My feelings and my heart really cripple me. I’ve been hurt, disappointed, and disrespected. I felt like I was withdrawing from love.”

Like many individuals navigating the aftermath of a breakup and depression, she admitted that she struggled to eat, sleep, think or work.

“I can’t even look at my kids’ faces because I just want to cry when I see them. I can’t go out; I don’t want to see daylight. I just couldn’t. When you know you're done, you just know. It dies in you, and when it dies, it’s very painful. You can’t go back; it’s just dead,” she reflected.

Cardi B and Offset's tumultuous relationship began in early 2017 with a secret marriage, followed by public cheating scandals, a split in 2018, and multiple reconciliations.

They share three children: Kulture, Wave and Blossom.

Cardi B filed for divorce from Offset in July 2024, four years after her initial filing in September 2020.

Despite their on-again, off-again relationship, she announced on Instagram Live in December 2023 that she was single again, revealing that her relationship with Offset had ended some time ago.

Throughout their public relationship, Cardi B has collaborated musically with Offset and has written songs reflecting on their experiences together.

“If something upsets me, I’m going to talk about it for three or four hours straight, and I’m going to keep repeating it until I express it,” she said.

One of her notable songs, "Be Careful" (2018), features lyrics that reflect on infidelity and serve as a warning to a cheating partner.

Although Cardi B stated that the song was not directed at Offset, it draws inspiration from her past relationships.

Additionally, her unreleased song "Shower Tears" addresses heartbreak and infidelity, with lyrics that reference the pain of a cheating partner texting other women from her bed.

This song was speculated to be part of her album “Am I the Drama?” and was shared on X (formerly Twitter) in March 2024.

Following her separation from Offset, Cardi B released “Outside” (2025), which celebrates her newfound independence and embodies a "when a woman's fed up" narrative.

The song features a bold and defiant tone, alluding to her connection with NFL player Stefon Diggs, referred to as the "favourite player from your favourite team."

Cardi B and Diggs were rumoured to be dating in October 2024 after being spotted together at a New York City nightclub.

They made their first public appearance as a couple in May 2025 at a New York Knicks game before Cardi B officially went Instagram-official with the NFL player a month later